Console seat for musicians



Sept. 17, 1963 w. THOMPSON 3,104,139

CONSOLE SEAT FOR MUSICIANS Filed Aug. 2, 1962 INVENTOR,

WI L L IA M THOMPSON Mfg 3,104,139 CDNSGLE SEAT FOR MUSICHANS WilliamThompson, 1016 Seymour St, Memphis, Tenn. Filed Aug. 2, 1962, filer. No.214,390 4 (Ilairns. (Cl. 312-235) This invention relates to certain newand useful improvements in console seats, particularly those adapted foruse by musicians such as organists and pianists. The present device isintended to provide a console seat which will relieve much of the strainof a physical nature upon the artist during change of position in theperformance of the musical composition, as for example, in connectionwith :an organist who must reach from side to side not only of themanual keyboards, but also on the foot pedals. Prior seats have beenineffective to provide a proper means for this purpose, and a simpleturntable seat is inefiective for the purpose on account of its narrowlimits.

The present device provides a means for converting a conventionalconsole seat to the present purpose, and provides new and novel meansfor accomplishing that purpose.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a consoleseat for musicians including a turnable central midsection.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a seat with atumable midsection with new and novel support means.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in whichsuch support means may conveniently be inserted in an existing consoleseat; and

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the design,construction and efliciency of console seat devices.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the presentinvention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment willbe readily understood from the following specification upon reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a console seat with the presentinvention mounted therein.

FIG. 2 is a top plan View of the console seat with a hinged lidelevated.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as on the line lIIIlI of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals, there is shown a console seat 11 having legs 13conveniently interconnected by an understructure 15 adjacent the lowerends of legs 13. At the upper end of the legs a hollow compartment 17extends from side to side and front to back of the device. Compartment17 is bounded by end walls 19 and front and back walls 20', 21.

A closure lid 23 is hinged preferably to back wall 21 for movement fromposition in which the lid rests upon the upper extremities ofcompartment 17 to a position in which the lid is raised and extendsperpendicularly upwardly from the back edge of back wall 21 in order toprovide access into the interior of the compartment.

The seat means of the present invention comprise a pair of elongatedbars 24 respectively disposed adjacent the front and rear of the device.Each of bars 24 is preferably an angle iron having a longitudinallyextending horizontal flange 25 and a longitudinally extending flange 26perpendicular to flange 25. Each bar 24 has at its opposite ends anupstanding end bracket 27, which brackets project equally upwardly fromthe respective bars, and each of end brackets 27 is provided with anupper outwardly projecting support flange 29.

Bars 24 intermediate their length are rigidly intercon- 3,164,139Patented Sept. 17, 1963 nested as by a plate 31 to which flanges 25 ofthe bars are rigidly fixed and by which the bars are held in parallelrelationship. Projecting upwardly from plate 31 is a substantiallycylindrical collar 33. Collar 33 intermediate its height is providedwith a seating disc 35 which spans across collar 33 above the level ofplate 31. A thrust bearing 37 is seated on and supported by the upperface of seating disc 35, and terminates substantially at the upperextremity of collar 33.

Below disc 35, and seated on plate 31 within collar 33, is a rollerbearing 39, the bearings being separated by disc 35. Plate 31 and disc35 are centrally apertured to receive a shaft 41 which is journalled inthe bearings and is provided at its lower end with an adjustment nut 43to adjust the rotational tension on the shaft. Nut 43 bears upwardlyagainst the undersurface of plate 31.

Seated on the upper end of collar 33, and fixed to the upper end ofshaft 31, is a disc 45. Thus nut 43 and disc 45 serve to retain shaft 41 Within the bearings 37, 39. Disc 45 is turnable relative to the upperend of collar 33 and is supported for such turning by the shaft throughthe bearings.

Rigidly fixed to the upper face of disc 45 and turnable therewith is aturntable seat 47. With the turntable means thus assembled, the devicemay be mounted in the console seat.

Lid 23 is provided with a central opening 49 which is dimensioned andpositioned to fit over turntable seat 47 so as to permit the seat 47 tobe accessible from above the console seat with the lid closed. It willbe observed that in the preferred arrangement turntable seat 47 ispositioned slightly elevated above the level of lid 23 when the lid isclosed so as better to accommodate access thereto.

The turntable means and the supports therefor may readily be removablyinserted in compartment 17 and be suspended therein, being supported bythe engagement of support flanges 29 on the upper edges of thecompartment and legs and being prevented against longitudinal movementby the engagement of end brackets 27 adjacent the ends of thecompartment, and preferably against the respective legs.

The bars 24 fit snugly in the compartment, flanges 26 engagingrespectively against front and rear Walls 20, 21, and preventingtransverse movement of the device. The bars are suspended so as to bespaced slightly above the bottom of the compartment insuring ample spacefor adjustment of shaft 41. If desired end brackets 27 may be removab-lyattached to the interior of legs 13 as by bolts 51.

Thus the turntable seat is positioned for use and provides a ready andconvenient :means by which the musician may turn from side to side,easily reaching the upper and lower extremities of the manual keyboards,as well as enabling a more ready access to the foot pedals in similarmanner.

I claim:

1. In a console seat as for organists and the like, which seat comprisessupporting legs, a compartment supported by said legs, a lid hinged toone wall of said compartment, a pair of bars extending longitudinally ofsaid cornpartment, a cross plate rigidly fixed to said bars and holdingsaid bars in parallel relation with said bars respectively snuglyabutting the front and rear walls of said compartment, each said bar atits opposite ends including a vertical bracket having an upper,outwardly extending support flange, said brackets respectively engagingsaid legs and suspending said bars in said compartment, a collar mountedon and extending above said plate, bearing means in said collar, a shaftrotatably mounted in said bearing means, a turntable seat fixed to theupper end of said shaft, said lid being centrally apertured and theaperture fitting over said seat in closed condition of said lid.

2. In a console seat as for organists and the like, which seat comprisessupporting legs, a compartment supported by said legs, a lid hinged toone wall of said compartment, a pair of bars extending longitudinally ofsaid compartment, each said bar having a longitudinally extendinghorizontal flange, a cross plate rigidly fixed to said horizontalflanges and holding said bars in parallel relation with said barsrespectively snugly abutting the front and rear walls of sm'dcompartment, each said bar at its opposite ends including a verticalbracket having an upper, outwardly extending support flange, saidbrackets respectively engaging said legs and suspending said bars insaid compartment, a collar mounted on and extending above said plate,bearing means in said collar, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearingmeans, a turntable seat fixed to the upper end of said shaft, said lidbeing centrally apertured and the aperture fitting over said seat inclosed condition of said lid.

3. In a console seat as for organists and the like, which seat comprisessupporting legs, a compartment supported by said legs, a lid hinged toone Wall of said compartment, a pair of bars extending longitudinally ofsaid compartruent, each said bar having a longitudinally extendinghorizontal flange and a longitudinally extending flange erpendicular tosaid horizontal flange, a cross plate rigidly fixed to said horizontalflanges and holding said bars in parallel relation with saidperpendicular flanges respectively snugly abutting the front and rearWalls of said compartment, each said bar at its opposite ends includinga vertical bracket having an upper, outwardly extending support flange,said brackets respectively engaging said legs and suspending said barsin said comd partnient, a collar mounted on and extending above saidplate, hearing means in said collar, a shaft rotatably mounted in saidbearing means, a turn able seat fixed to the upper end of said shaft,said lid being centrally aperturcd and the aperture fitting over saidseat in closed condition of said lid.

4. In a console seat as for organists and the like, which seat comprisessupporting legs, a compartment supported by said legs, ailid hinged toone wall of said compartment, a pair of bars extending longitudinally ofsaid compartment, each said bar having a longitudinally extendinghorizontal flange and a longitudinally extendingllange perpendicular tosaid horizontal flange, a cross plate rigidly fixed to said horizontalflanges and holding said bars in parallel relation with saidperpendicular flanges respectively snugly abutting the front and rearwalls of said compartment, each said her at its opposite ends includinga vertical bracket having an upper, outwardly extending support flange,said brackets respectively engaging said legs and suspending said barsin said compartment spaced above the bottom of said compartment, acollar mounted on and extending above said plate, heating means in saidcollar, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing means, a turntableseat fixed to the upper end of said shaft, said lid being centrallyapertured and the aperture fitting over said seat in closed condition ofsaid lid.

efcrenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 187,429Sykes Feb. 13, 1877 1,183,114 Ramsell May 16, 1916 1,245,967 Ray Nov. 6,1917 1,249,873 VVilcke Dec. 11, 1917

1. IN A CONSOLE SEAT AS FOR ORGANISTS AND THE LIKE, WHICH SEAT COMPRISESSUPPORTING LEGS, A COMPARTMENT SUPPORTED BY SAID LEGS, A LID HINGED TOONE WALL OF SAID COMPARTMENT, A PAIR OF BARS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OFSAID COMPARTMENT, A CROSS PLATE RIGIDLY FIXED TO SAID BARS AND HOLDINGSAID BARS IN PARALLEL RELATION WITH SAID BARS RESPECTIVELY SNUGLYABUTTING THE FRONT AND REAR WALLS OF SAID COMPARTMENT, EACH SAID BAR ATITS OPPOSITE ENDS INCLUDING A VERTICAL BRACKET HAVING AN UPPER,OUTWARDLY EXTENDING SUPPORT FLANGE, SAID BRACKETS RESPECTIVELY ENGAGINGSAID LEGS AND SUSPENDING SAID BARS IN SAID COMPARTMENT, A COLLAR MOUNTEDON AND EXTENDING ABOVE SAID PLATE, BEARING MEANS IN SAID COLLAR, A SHAFTROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BEARING MEANS, A TURNTABLE SEAT FIXED TO THEUPPER END OF SAID SHAFT, SAID LID BEING CENTRALLY APERTURED AND THEAPERTURE FITTING OVER SAID SEAT IN CLOSED CONDITION OF SAID LID.